Fabric-treating machine



June 17, 1930. w w. slBsoN ET AL 1,764,089

FABRIC TREATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet .l

WITNESSES & w N W H w 1ygoR- s= &

I (Y 61' Z 81 [1' 054404 12, By T/wmas J 7 717161;

June 17, 1930. w, w; SIBSQN ET AL 1,764,089

FABRIC TREATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla IWITNESSES E INVENTORS:

WIZZ'GI Wfizbson &

I I J 16, W A A TORNEYS.

June 17, 1930. I w SIBSON ET AL FABRIC TREAT ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTORS: Willie? Wflibson & W J 1 7L116 BY 7% Et I TTORNEYS.

June 17, 193 0.

W. W. SIBSON ET AL FABRIC TREATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 21,1929 FIG; M

INVENTORS:

zmzz-emmmsma BY Tfwmm Jimllag WHOM/5Y5. ll

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER w. sIBsoN ANDTHOMAS J. MILLER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoEs TO THEPHILADELPHIA DRYING MAcIIINEnY COMPANY, OF PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,A CORPORATION OF PENNSY VANIA FABRIC-TREATING MACHINE Application filedFebruary 21, 1929. .Serial No. 341,626.

This invention relates to fabric treating machines and, moreparticularly, to that type generally adapted to the cooling andconditioning of certain classes of materials necessitating a degree ofmoisture regain .in order to ensure the best and most desirable finishand feel.

A general object of our invention' is to provide a novel means forcooling and conditioning materials in which the temperature and humiditymay be accurately regulated and controlled in a manner which ensurespredetermined definite results, while 'finish, and also impart apredetermined moisture regain said equipment.

thereto while traversing \Vith the foregoing and other objects in view,our invention consists in the construction and novel combination ofparts hereinafter fully set forth, illustrated -by the accompanyingsheets of drawings, and tersely pointed out in the claims appendedhereto. It is to be understood, however, that various changes in theform, proportion, arrangement and minor-details of construction, withinthe scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from orsacrificing any of the fundamental advantages of our ii'lvention.

In the drawin s:

Fig. I is a sit e elevation of a cloth cooling and conditioning machineembodying our present improvements.

Fig. II is a top plan view.

Fig. III is a, longitudinal section through the machine, takenapproximately as indi-' cated by the arrows III-III on the precedingillustration; and, p

Fig. IV is an end elevation looking toward the left-hand of Fig. I.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, our novel cooling andconditioning equipment or machine comprises an inclosure,

comprehensively designated 5, of conventional construction"; thesamebeing sub-divided by vertical partitions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 toprovide a comparatively narrow cooling chamber 11; and a succession ofrelativelywider intercommunicating conditioning compartments 12', 13,14, 15 and-16, which define a sinuous course through the-inclosure forthe material and treating. medium-such as humidified air-.as later onfully explained.

Transversely of the upper region of the inclosure .5, over and along themajor extent of the series of conditioning compartments 1216, is asub-proof 17 which sets.

apart a flow-passage 18; as well as affording support for a coil or tubebank 19, conventionally connected with any suitable source of heatingmedium. Attention is here directed to the fact that the partition 6,above referred to, extends from the roof 20 of the inclosure 5 to thebottom or floor 21 thereof, except where it is cut out for passage ofthe material M.

Conveniently journaled in suitable bearings horizontally of theinclosure 5 are series of uppenand. lower rollers 22,,23, respec-'tively, for the purpose of conveying the material M through the coolingchamber 11, and conditioning compartments 12-46. The upper rollers,22'are driven by means of sprockets 24 with entrained chains 25,- 26 andidler sprockets 27 located above-and positionally betweeneach successivepair of said rollers; whilethe return flights of the drive chains 25,26pass over, relativelysuperspaced, idler or take-up sprockets 28 inalignment with certain of the rollers 22, as clearly seen on anexamination of Fig. I, more particularly. I A

The respective drive chains 25, 26, aforesaid, with the relatedsprockets 24 and rollers 22, in turn are operated through the medium ofchain transmissions 29, 30,. and sprockets 31, 32 on the axes of thetrailing rollers 22 and 22"-for example; said transmissions passing oversprockets '33, 34 formed on, or secured to, a sleeve 35 freely rotatableon a constant speed shaft 36. This, sleeve 35 is operated from avariable to a shaft 51 journaled in bearings 52,

mounted on the roof 20 of-the inclosure 5. The shaft 51 has securedthereon a vertically rotatable fan 53, functional to circulatethetreating mediumby way .of a fan housing and elbow 54 from the flowpassage 18, hereinbefore referred to, through a trunk or conduit 55, ina downward direction to the inlet 56 of a vapor-box 57. containingmoisture-producing spray heads 58.

In View of there being other somewhat similar vapor-boxes arranged atintervals of the conditioning compartments 1216, I will now particularlydescribe the above mentioned one 57, and thereafter simply designate theothers in general terms, with specific explanation of any differingfeatures only, in order to avoid unnecessary repetitive description. Thevapor-box 57 it will be seen consists of a rectangular receptaclesuitably sustained in spacial relation within a box-like extension 59located at the delivery end of the machine; such extension beingprovided with doors 60 for convenience of access thereinto; while thefront wall 61 of said vaporsbox serves as a baflie or dead wall toprevent contact of spray from the heads 58 with the material M. Thevapor-box 57 is provided with a lateral baffle 57 functional toconstrict flow therethrough of the treating medium to an outlet orifice62, while doors or a removable panel 63 to afford convenience of accessto examine or adjust the spray heads 58.

A water-box 64, having a service connection 65 and shutoff valve 66, isfitted in conjunction with the vapor-box 57 and said water-box connectsto the spray heads 58 by way of a supply pipe 67. -Air under pressure issupplied across the emission from the heads 58 by wayof a pipe 68, inorder to provide the moisture necessary to the cm surement of a properlysaturated atmosphere for discharge through the outlet orifice 62, underconstrictive action of the baflle 57 aforesaid; into the conditioningcompartment 16.

At predetermined intervals of the conditioning section of the machine,for convenience intermediate the compartments 12, 13 and 14, 15; welocate supplemental vaporboxes 69, 70, respectively. Thesesupplemental-boxes 69, in all major respects rewalls thereof; while thetops of saidsupple- I mental-boxes are inclined to constitute baffles 73which prevent spray emitted by the heads 58 coming in direct contactwith the material M, passingaboutthe lower or idler rollers 23. A pan 74is provided in conjunction with each vapor-box 69, 70, to catchandpermit evaporation ofany possible drip from the baflies 73; while wateris supplied to the related spray heads 58. by way of flow connections75, Fig. I, from the water-box '64.

Air circulated, by means of the fan 53, through the conduit .55 into thevapor-box 57, becomes moisture laden before passing the outlet orifice62 for induced flow below said box, as conventionally indicated by thearrows on Fig. III, upwardlythrough the conditioning compartment 16,over the top of the partition 10, and thence downwardly of thecompartment 15. thereby depositing a portion of the humidified moisturein the material M. At this juncture, it is noteworthy'that thepartitions 8 and 10, extend from the inclosure floor 21 into closeproximity with the underside of oneof a related upper roller 22; thepartitions 7 and 9 from the sub-roof 17 into close relation with theupper face of a lower idler roller 23; and, the partition 6 from theinclosure roof 20 to the floor 21 thereof, with a cut-out at 76 toaccommodate one of the upper rollers 22, and passage of the material M.

In its further flow from the conditioning compartment 15-as indicated bythe arrows on Fig. III-the air receives more moisture by virtue ofconstrained passage through the vapor-box 70, whence it upwardly flowsby way of the compartment 14, over the partition '8 and downwardly ofthe compartment 13. The above explained re-moistening of the air, as itpasses from the compartment 13, for upward flow by way of theconditioning compartment 12 again takes place, by similar constrainedpassage through the vapor-box'69; while the air leaving said lattercompartment is returned to the cir- A culating fan 53, through theflow-passage 18 containing the heater coils 19.

Material M--such as cloth--to be cooled and conditioned, if in the formof a roll 77, is placed by its axis or spindle upon the bracket bearings78, at feedend of the inclosure 5. The free end of the roll 77 is thenpassed upwardly about tensioning bars 79, under control of suitableadjuster means 80, and enters the cooling chamber 11, at 81. While thematerial M passes through,

the cooling chamber 11, the heattherein-contained is removed by means ofan exhaust fan 82 housed in an elbowed outlet-cowl '83, on the roof 20over said chamber. This fan 82 is conveniently driven by abelt-transmission 84, and pulleys 85, 86 from the counter, shaft 41,herei'nbefore referred to; while the heated air drawn-ofi by said fan isexhausted to the outside atmosphere through a suitable connection to thecowl 83-not shown, and is constantly replaced by fresh air drawn in byway of an inlet 87 proximate the lower edge of the inclosure feed-endwall 88, as conventionally indicated by the arrows on Fig. III.

To properly control the humidity in the several conditioningcompartments we make use of a regulator device 89, mounted convenientlyon an instrument board 90, located on the box-like extension 59; saiddevice having associated hygrometers 91 and. actuating suitable valvesthat govern the amount of spray from the heads 58, as well as the supplyof steamfor exampleto the heater coils 19. As these variousinstrumentalities are well known, they are not specifically il lustratedor described in detail, as their coordinative location and relation willbe obvious to those conversant with the art to which our inventionappertains.

The material M upon leaving the cooling chamber 11 passes continuouslythrough the successive conditioning compartments 12- 16, over the drivenrollers 22 and under the idlers 23 along a closely compacted undulatorypath until it emerges from the enclosure at 92. After leaving the outlet92, the

cooled-and-conditioned material M, is conducted downwards under an idlerroll 93, suitably journaled across the delivery end wall 941 of theinclosure 5, to an appropriate roll-up means 95. This roll-up means 95includes a removable spindle 96 upon which the material M is wound, saidspindle being frictionally rotated by a roller 97 with an appropriatetransmission 98 from a sprocket 99 on the axis of the trailing roller 22remote from the drive sprocket 32 thereon; while the ends of saidspindle are guided by tracks in pivoted lever arms 100. When a roll orbolt of material M is wound up on the spindle 96, the operator releasesthe latches 101 thereby permitting the lever arms 100 to bedownwardly'swung onthe'irpivots until they abut the supporting brackets102 therefor. The sewing is then cut at the juncture of the followingpiece ofmatcrial M, whereupon the completed roll or bolt is removed andthe spindle 96, withdrawn. The lever arms 100 are next returned to theposition shown, the spindle 96 drawn into place thereagainst and thelatches 101 restored; whereupon the free endof the next length ofmaterial M is l pped aroundsaid -o spindle, and the sequen e of events,just described, repeated for ach successive roll or bolt turned out bythe machine. Y

From the foregoing it is throught the features, merits and advantages ofour novel cooling-conditioning equipment will be apparent, but it isherein desired to emphasize the provision of the controllablevapor-boxes 57, 69 and 70, whereby a greater .or lesser amount ofmoisture regain is positively obtainable. This phase of our invention isof primary importance as fabrics vary considerably, not only in weightand thickness, but they maybe'of open or close weave; while the yarnsand fibers from which they are made also vary very considerably. By ourinvention, however, all such differing texture conditions can beaccurately accomodated, inasmuch as provisions are made to regulate themachine over a wide range of different conditionings.

Finally, as compared with known forms of apparatus for similar purposes,our improved equipment ena-blesthe obtention of a product of a very muchmore uniformly'distributed moisture content, which may be closelycontrolled and regulated; and that also has possibilities of imparting agreater amount of moisture regain to the material treated than has beenpossible, heretofore: such results being accurately ensured in a shorterperiod of time, with the product of better feel and weight,

Having thus described our invention what we claim is 1. In a machine ofthe type described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided to,define a cooling chamber, and a series of intercommunicatingcompartments that define sinuous fiow of conditioning medium; meansprogressing material through the cooling chamber and conditioningcompartments in compacted flights over a sinuous course alternatinglywith and counter to the flow of the conditioning medium, and meansautomatically controlling injection of predetermined degrees of vapor atintervals of the conditioning medium flow.

2. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosuresubdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and asuccession of relatively larger intercommunicating vertical conditioningcompartments which definea sinuous flow of treating medium,with a returnflow passage over said compartments; means priigressing material throughthe cooling chamber and conditioning compartm nts in paralleling flightsover an undulatoihp. course alternatingly with and counter to t e flowof the conditioning medium, and means supplying difi'eringdegrees ofvapor at intervals of the conditioning medium. flow under co-ordinateautomatic control.

3. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosuresubdivided to define a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and asuccession of relatively- Y combination of an inclosure subdivided todefine a comparatively confined cooling chamber, and a succession ofrelatively larger intercommunicating conditioning compartments thatdefine a sinuous flow of the treating medium; a sub-roof over' the majorextent of said compartments setting apart a return-flow passagetherefor; heater means supported by the sub-roof within the flowpassage; means conveying material,

- continuously through the cooling chamber n I u and conditioningcompartments over a com-' pacted counter-progressing undulate course;and, vapor producing means under co-ordinate control disposed atintervals of the conditioning compartments adapted to emit variabledegrees of moisture below the progressing material.

51' In a machine of the type described, the

combination of an inclosure subdivided to define a comparativelyconfined cooling chamber, and a succession of relativelylargerintercommunicating conditioning compartments that define a sinuous flowof the treating medium; a sub-roof over the v major extent of saidcompartments setting apart areturn-flow passage therefor; heater meanssupported by the sub-roof within the flow passage; .means conveyingmaterial continuously through the cooling chamber and conditioningcompartments over a compacted counter-progressing undulate course; vaporproducing means under co-ordinate control disposed at intervals of theconditioning compartments adapted to emit variable degrees of moisturebelow the progressingmaterial; and a circulating fan in a conduitconnection from the discharge end of the aforesaid flow passage to theterminal vapor producing means.

6. In a. machine :of the type described, the

combination of an inclosure sub-divided by with baffles to preventdirect contact of non vaporized medium therewith; a circulating fan in aconduit connection from-the exit end of the return-flow passage to theterminal vapor producing receptacle; and coordinatively operated meanseffective to continuously fiow fresh air through the cooling compartmentaforesaid.

7. In a machine of the type described, the combination of an inclosuresub-divided by vertical partitions to define a comparatively narrowcooling chamber, and a succession of relatively-wider intercommunicatingconditioning sections that definesinuous flow of the treating medium; ahorizontally dis-v posed sub-roof over the major extent of said sectionssetting apart a return-flow passage therefor; a heater-coil co-extensiveof the sub-roof within the return-flow passage; co-

ordinatively-driven and idler rolls conveying material through themachinejcounten directionally to the flow of treating medium over aclosely-compacted undulate course; automatically controlled vaporproducing receptacles located at'intervals of the conditioning sectionsemitting differing degrees of moisture below the progressing material,with bafiies to. prevent direct contact vertical partitions to define acomparatively narrow coolin chamber, and a'succession of a relatively wier intercommunicating conditioning sections that define'sinuous flow ofthe treating medium; a horizontally disposed sub-roof over the majorextent of said sections setting apart a return-flow passage therefor; aheater-coil co-extensive of the sub-roof within the return-flow passage;coordinatively-driven and idler rolls convey-

